Common Sherlock Themes
Chapters 1-6
The first element addressed within this story is greed. Major Sholto, the close companion of Mr. Mornstan, displayed his stingy behavior by refusing to equally share his treasure with Mr. Mornstan. He kept the treasure to himself, without revealing it to his own sons, which is also a representation of greed among families. Major Sholto also deceived Jonathan Small, a man who he made a promise to out of greed. Sholto promised to help Small escape from his prion sentece in exchange for a portion of treasure. Once Sholto discovered where Small's treasure was hidden however, he stole it and brought it back to England without rightfully freeing Small and sharing it with Mr. Mornstan as he had promised.
Another common element within this story is death and injury. Bartholomew was stabbed with a poisonous dart and killed. Mr. Mornstan smashed his head on the edge of the treasure chest while engaging in an argument with Major Sholto. Major Sholto died from he lath complications shortly after this incident occurred. Clearly, death was heavily portrayed within this story.
The narration of a third person character is also another common theme displayed within this story. Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes's closest friend and aid to many of his cases accompanied him through this case while narrating every detail of deduction. This is similar to almost all Sherlock Holmes stories because Dr. Watson is most commonly the narrator.
The idea of poetic justice was portrayed within this story. Major Sholto, while in India, promised Jonathan Small that he would help him escape if Small informed him of the treasure's location. Instead of keeping his promise, he stole the treasure from Small and traveled back to England. Major Sholto died of health complications a number of years after he had stolen the treasure. This could be considered poetic justice because he was ultimately punished for his extreme greed.
Chapters 7-12
The first theme in the section portion of the novel is “disguised identity”. A disguised identity is presented when the note signed “sign of four” is left by the murderers. This is a disguised identity because instead of presenting their real identities they used an alias.
Following this theme is the involvement of dogs. In this novel dogs were used to trace the scents of the murders to the sea side where Holmes discovers that the men boarded a ship known as the ‘Aurora”.
Death and injury is another theme that was found during this portion of the book. After capturing Jonathan Small his small African companion was killed He was killed because the man was continuously trying to kill Holmes and the rest of the passengers on the ship. The death of a character in a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story are repeated and can be found in many of the Sherlock Holmes short stories.
The next “Sherlock Holmes” theme evident in this story is the conclusion of the story explaining the crime that occurred in the story. In this novel, Jonathon Small told Sherlock the whole story of the treasure. He explained why he pursued the wealthy man as well as how the men were captured and sentenced to prision for the rest of their lives. This type of ending is recurring in almost all of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes Stories.
The “major” theme in this novel was justice. Jonathan Small wanted justice against Major Sholto because Sholto took Small’s treasure. Sherlock Holmes wanted justice because he was a detective and wanted to help Ms. Morstan. Both the protagonist and antagonist want justice in some shape or form and eventually find it.
The first element addressed within this story is greed. Major Sholto, the close companion of Mr. Mornstan, displayed his stingy behavior by refusing to equally share his treasure with Mr. Mornstan. He kept the treasure to himself, without revealing it to his own sons, which is also a representation of greed among families. Major Sholto also deceived Jonathan Small, a man who he made a promise to out of greed. Sholto promised to help Small escape from his prion sentece in exchange for a portion of treasure. Once Sholto discovered where Small's treasure was hidden however, he stole it and brought it back to England without rightfully freeing Small and sharing it with Mr. Mornstan as he had promised.
Another common element within this story is death and injury. Bartholomew was stabbed with a poisonous dart and killed. Mr. Mornstan smashed his head on the edge of the treasure chest while engaging in an argument with Major Sholto. Major Sholto died from he lath complications shortly after this incident occurred. Clearly, death was heavily portrayed within this story.
The narration of a third person character is also another common theme displayed within this story. Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes's closest friend and aid to many of his cases accompanied him through this case while narrating every detail of deduction. This is similar to almost all Sherlock Holmes stories because Dr. Watson is most commonly the narrator.
The idea of poetic justice was portrayed within this story. Major Sholto, while in India, promised Jonathan Small that he would help him escape if Small informed him of the treasure's location. Instead of keeping his promise, he stole the treasure from Small and traveled back to England. Major Sholto died of health complications a number of years after he had stolen the treasure. This could be considered poetic justice because he was ultimately punished for his extreme greed.
Chapters 7-12
The first theme in the section portion of the novel is “disguised identity”. A disguised identity is presented when the note signed “sign of four” is left by the murderers. This is a disguised identity because instead of presenting their real identities they used an alias.
Following this theme is the involvement of dogs. In this novel dogs were used to trace the scents of the murders to the sea side where Holmes discovers that the men boarded a ship known as the ‘Aurora”.
Death and injury is another theme that was found during this portion of the book. After capturing Jonathan Small his small African companion was killed He was killed because the man was continuously trying to kill Holmes and the rest of the passengers on the ship. The death of a character in a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes story are repeated and can be found in many of the Sherlock Holmes short stories.
The next “Sherlock Holmes” theme evident in this story is the conclusion of the story explaining the crime that occurred in the story. In this novel, Jonathon Small told Sherlock the whole story of the treasure. He explained why he pursued the wealthy man as well as how the men were captured and sentenced to prision for the rest of their lives. This type of ending is recurring in almost all of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes Stories.
The “major” theme in this novel was justice. Jonathan Small wanted justice against Major Sholto because Sholto took Small’s treasure. Sherlock Holmes wanted justice because he was a detective and wanted to help Ms. Morstan. Both the protagonist and antagonist want justice in some shape or form and eventually find it.